Dispenser for fluid and semi-fluid materials



April 13, 1965 p woo JR 3,178,059

DISPENSER FOR FLUID AND SEMI-FLUID MATERIALS Filed Jan. 24, 1963 3Sheets-Sheet 1 3,9 f; 3 as 122 I21 IN /E NToR: GEORGE H. PHcKwoo JmHTToRNEYs A ril 13, 1965 s. H. PACKWOOD, JR 3,173,059

DISPENSER FOR FLUID AND SEMI-FLUID MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan.24, 1963 i'hh/ENTOR GEORGE h. PACKwoooJE'. 5y ffi' y l g E? W4 4,6 M I,U] mem HIHII Ililllil HTTORNE75 April 1965 e. H. PACKWOOD, JR 3,178,059

DISPENSER FOR FLUID AND SEMI-FLUID MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan.24, 1963 73 55 B3 hVv ENTOR:

GEORGE H. PACKWOOQJR- United States Patent Ofiice l ntern-ted l3, 1%553,17%,t959 DISPENSER EFGR ELUil) AND SEMi-FLUID MATERZALS George H.Pachweod, in, Glencoe, Ma, assignor to G. H. Paclrwoed hi'anuiracturingCompany, St. Louis, halo, a corporation oi Missouri Filed .ian. 24,1963, Ser. N 253,557 31 Claims. (6i. 222-45) The present inventionrelates to a dispenser for fiuid and semi-fluid materials. It isparticularly useful in connection with the dispensing of hand cleaners,lotions and the like, although it is to be understood that it candispense any similar materials. It can be used with any type of materialthat can be packed in a bottle, and which will flow therefrom underpressure differentials contemplated herein.

Baically the invention consists of a dispenser body a product containerassociated with the body. The body preferably is a unit, cast or moldedof metal or plastic. Two kinds of containers are of particular use inthe present combination. One of them is a rigid cylindrical receptacletypified by the familiar can, and the other is a plastic bottle. Othertypes of containers can be use as will appear from the description. Abottle has certain advantages, including the elimination of mess anddrip; but since some products come conventionally in other types ofcontainers, the dispenser has been designed to incorporate such otherWhere a can type container is used, it conventionally is opened by theremoval of its top cover. T he cover can be a slip or friction-fitcover, or it rolled on, may be removed by a can opener. The dispenserbody is adapted to receive the upper edge of the container in invertedposition. The arrangement provides a sealing relationship between thecontainer and the body by the interfit of the wall or" the can into anappropriate groove in the dispenser body. When a bottle is used, itsthreaded neck is threaded into a portion of the dispenser body while theshoulder of the bottle is stabilized on the top surface of the dispenserbody, and additional stabilizing means may be used to interfit with thesame groove that receives the top of the can. The dispenser can useeither type container with no change in its operation or mechanism. Inboth cases, the product to be dispensed can be drawn past a check valveinto a dispenser chamber or passage through the action of a piston in asuction stroke, and then ejected trough a discharge orifice past anothercheck valve by a return stroke of the piston. The dispenser is adaptedto be fastened on a wall in such wise that the body can be inverted, sothat a container of product to be dispensed can be secured to thedispenser body while the can re mains in upright position, and afterinstallation of the can onto the dispenser body, the body may bereverted. The dispenser is designed to employ the check valvesdescribed, which necessitated a design that prevents channelliag ofmaterial that could break the piston suction.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a dispenser of theforegoing kind that can be operated wit either liquid, semi-liquid orgel-like material Without any change whatsoever in the operatingmechanism. Another object is to provide a dispenser of the foregoingkind in which the product container can be either a can, which ispreferred for gel-like or semi-liquid materials, or a bottle which ispreferred when the material to be used is liquid as in the case of alotion.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of this typein which the liquid or semi-liquid product is sucked into the dischargepassage by one stroke of a piston and emitted from that passage by thereturn stroke of the piston; and in which there is a minimum opportunityfor channelling through the mass or material in the container to breakthe suction and prevent the intake of material into the-dispensingchamber. In this connectien it is object to provide a positive valvingarrangernent that insures metered dispensing. Another object of theinvention is to provide means to adjust the amount of material thatisdispensed with each cycle of operation of the dispensing mechanism andto do this specifically by adjusting the stroke of the piston.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means to prevent theentrapment and retaining of air below the duct to be dispensed when anew receptacle thereof is placed on the dispenser body. And particularlyit is an object to provide a venting means to permit discharge of suchair. It is an object of the invention to provide a combination of anindicator plus a follower plate wherein the indicator tells the amountof material remaining in the dispenser to be dispensed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a desirable supportingmeans for attaching the dispenser to a wall or other support, whichenables the dispenser 'to be inverted and reverted readily, and yet tobe held securely in upright position. And in this it is a further objectto provide such mechanism that is compactly combi with the operatingmechanism of the dispenser to rm. .mize the projection of the dispenserout from the wall and to give a maximum degree of strength. Anotherobject is to provide attaching means for securing the dispenser to awall that can permit the dispenser to be lifted from the wall and to berestored to the wall with a minimum of difficulty.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dis pe ser of theforegoing type in which the main body member can be made from a singleunitary casting, such a a die casting or by injection molding such asplastic. And another object includes the arrangement of the dis pensingoperating mechanism including the valves in such ways that they can bereadily installed into the foregoingcasting or molded part and also canbe removed for replacement if necessary.

Another object is to provide a dispenser of this type havins an infinitenumber of adjustments of the amount dispensed by each cycle ofoperation. An additional one is to provide a dispenser of this type thatcan be loaded in any of threeways-by inverting a product container intothe dispenser body, by pivoting the body into inverted position andlifting the upright container into position thereon and then reverting,and by readily removing the dispenser from the wall and installing a newcontainer of product. Other objects include providing a dispenser thatminimizes spillage and mess, both in operation and in installation andat rest; that minimizes rocking and jerking in use and thereforeminimizes breaking the dispenser away from its support; that can beloaded quickly and without special tools; and that can be easily removedfrom the wall and easily cleaned.

Other objects will appear from the description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the body portion of the dispenser with theproduct receptacle removed;

FIGURE 2 is a'front-to-rear medial vertical section taken on the line2-2 of FIGURE 1 with a cylindrical can product receptacle in place;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical section with the cylindrical canreceptacle in place, taken on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a View similar to FlGURE 3 showing a plastic bottle type ofproduct receptacle, but not showing all of the dispenser body;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 2, on an enlargedscale;

7 FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 3, on an enlargedscale;

FIGURE 7 is a rear view of the main casting of the. 1

- I dispenser body;

FIGURE 8 is a bottom view of the main casting of the dispenser body; 1

'-FIGURE 9 is a rear elevation of the retainer used in fastening thedispenser to the wall;

FIGURE. 10 is a back view of the Wall plate usedin attaching thedispenser to a wall or the like; I j FIGURE 11 is a horizontal sectionon the line 11-12t ofFIGURElO; V 7

FIGURE 12 is' a top plan view of the bottom plate for the dispenser; a

. FIGURE 13 .is an elevation of the crank driver used in operating thedispenser; 1

FIGURE14 is a bottom plan view of the crank driver ofFIGURE 13;

FIGURE 15 is an end view of said crank driver; 7 FIGURE 16 is asectional view of the crank driver taken through the axis thereof on theline 16I6 of FIG- UREIS;

provide for the dispensing thereof in measured amounts and to providefor the support thereof in appropriate position on a wall or the like.Preferably, the dispenser body is permanently molded in a single piecefrom some appro-. priate material such as metal or plastic.' As is shownby the drawings, the dispenser body projects forwardly from the wall orthe like and can be attached to the Wall in a particular manner to bedescribed.

The body 20 is provided with a back wall 21, this back wall having acircular recess 22 formed inwardly from its rear surface, the bottom ofwhich recess is provided with an opening 23. It also has three lugsproviding for screw holes 24 that may be threaded to receive screws, aswill appear. i V

p The back wall 21 also has a lateral projection 25 that is notched in ahook 27 for a purpose to appear.

The circular recess 22 is adapted, to receive a dished and flangedretainer 28, the center portion of which is circular so as to fitslidingly within the recess. A wall plate 29 has a circular recess 30through which, the outside of the body of the retainer 28 fits with aslidable engagement. The retainer has a flange 31 engageable against theback of the wall plate 29, so that the wall plate can be retainedbetween the body 20 and the retainer. The retainer 28 has bossesproviding three holes 32 that are spaced to correspond with the holes 24in the back wall 21. Screws 33 pass freely through the holes 32 and arethreaded into the holes 24. The retainer has I a hole 34 through themiddle thereof.

With this preferred arrangement the screws can be tightened into placeinto the body 20, and the retainer 28, by means of its flange 31, andwill hold the dispenser body 20 insnugbut slidable engagement with thewall plate 29 so that it can be rotated from upright to invertedposition. The wallplate 29 extends laterally far enough to receive athumb screw 35 that, as illustrated in FIG- back surfacerecessed toreceive the flange of theretainer 28. In other words, the back surfaceof the wall plate 29 is the rearmost part of the dispenser body beingfurther back than the retainer 28 or the heads of the screws'32. Thus itcan be placed flush against a wall. The wall plate is provided withkeyhole shaped holes 37 at its four corners. These have their uppermargins inset as at 38. Thus when headed screws 39 are threaded'throughthe holes 37 into the wall in the four appropriate positions, the plate29 can be placed over them and then .rnoved vertically downwardly,bringing the heads 39 into the narrow parts of the holes where they willhold the plate onto thev wall. In these positions, their heads do notproject out far enough to interfere with turning the dispenserbodyupside down and back.

The dispenser body 20 has an upper portion generally I designated at 42. I Preferably, but not necessarialy, this portion, 4-2 is circular.typical size of this dispenser, the circular portion 42 In order to givean idea of a may have a diameter of about 6% inches.

Thecircular portion 42 is provided with a deep periphcral groove 43continuously around its outside edge.

This groove is disposed between an outside more or less' vertical wall44 and an inside more or less vertical wall 45. The vertical wall 45preferably is not as high as the wall 44. The sides of the grooves 43should be sloped to accommodate for variations in size of cansintroduced into the groove and also to facilitate placing the can inposition. The wall 44 extends'all the way around the dispenser body. Thewall 45 is formed as continuous with a generally horizontal wall 46constituting, in use, a bot- 1 tom for the product receptacle. The wallan is dished toward the center, as illustrated. As shown, particularlyin FIGURES 1 and 2, there is a front recess 48 and a back recess 49 thatform wells in this surface 46 that minimizethe amount of material intheunit.

Extending downwardly from below the wall 46 and int'egral therewith aretwo substantially vertical walls 52 and 53. These walls slope inwardlytoward each other toward 1 the front of the'dispenser body where theymerge into a more or less circular portion 54 designed to provide adischarge opening as will appear. The wall 46 extends continuouslyacross the upper portions of the two walls 52 and 53, except in the twowells 48 and 49.

, At the center of the wall 46 a circular recess 56 is formed. Suitablebridge walls 57 and S8 span the wells 48 and 49 to make the walls ofthis recess continuous. inwardly of the recess 56 there is a somewhatdeeper annular threaded recess 5%, the walls of which are threaded aspreferably by a coarse thread. Forthe typical dispenser here used forillustration, a 38 mm. 6-thread per- URES 1 and 3, can be engaged by thehook 27 of the inch special buttress thread is appropriate.

Within the annular recess 59 and concentric therewith, there is anannular wall 60 that provides an internally threaded recess 61. Therecess is bored in the bottom as seen in FIGURE 6, to provide shoulders62 for seating a spring, as will be explained.

The bore 61 opens into a dispensing chamber 63 that is formed withinwalls 65 molded integrally with the body 20.

The chamber 63 opens through to the back of the body 20. Forwardly fromthe back it is machined into circular shape as shown at 67, to receive apiston as will appear. This machined portion terminates at the opening61. The bottom wall of this tubular part is cut away at 68. toward therear, to receive a crank arm as will appear.

The forward part of the passage 653 communicates through a hole 69 witha vertical bore '78 that opens through the bottom of the dispenser body.

The depending dispenser body side wall 52 is provided 7 with a boss 73that-extends inwardly fromthe wall 52. At

the top of the boss 73 there is a reinforcing web 74 that extends fromthe wall 45 to the wall 52. A vent hole 76 of tapered shape extendsupwardly frorn the bottom of the boss 73 to the bottom of the annularrecess 59. Near the upper part of the boss 73 and opposite the center ofthe passage 66 there is a horizontal screw hole 7'7, for a purpose toappear. The outer, and, as illustrated, somewhat larger portion of thishole 77 is threaded. Depending to one side of the wall 53 there is ahandle bracing lug 80 that also may be formed integrally with the body20.

The walls 52 and 53 and associated parts provide a recess or enclosure82, opening upwardly into the bottom of the dispenser body 2t). This maybe closed by a bottom plate 83 that is removably held in place byscrews. This plate 83 should have a hole 34 through it for a purpose toappear, and a hole 85 to register with the bottom of the vent passage76. At its forward end, the plate 83 has an upstanding ported boss thatfits up into the outlet bore 7t as will appear.

The chamber 63, as noted, is part of a dispensing passage for paste,gel-like cream, lotions, or liquid material that is above the wall 46.This product material can flow to the upper part of the circular wall6%) to be dispensed. This wall 69 receives a check valve that is part ofthe dispensing operating mechanism. The check valve includes a flangedcap 86 that is threaded into the inner surface of the circular wall 60.The cap has an opening to provide a valve seat for a ball valve 87 thatis urged upwardly by a spring 88 that rests upon the shoulder 62previously mentioned, and illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6. The springthus yieldably urges the ball 87 into closing engagement with its seatin the cap 86. But when the ball is displaced downwardly against thespring 88, material may flow past the ball down into the chamber 63.

The material to be dispensed may be ejected from the chamber 63 pastanother ball check valve 943 that seats on a seat at the upper part ofthe discharge bore 70. The ball 90 is urged upwardly by a spring 91. Thespring 91 is held in place by a boss 92 on the forward end of the bottomplate 33. This boss 92 has a tapered rectangular or other shaped hole d3through it, that forms an outlet or discharge orifice for the materialto be dispensed. The size of this hole can be changed by changing thebottom plate 83.

A piston arrangement is used with the foregoing other components of thedispenser operating mechanism to cause material to be drawn in past thevalve 87 and ejected outwardly past the valve This includes a spooltypepiston 95 reciprocating horizontally in the machined bore 67. Thispiston preferably has an O-ring 96 about its main piston head. The rearpart of the piston is bi furcated, providing a slot 97 into which ispivotally mounted one end of a pitman or crank arm $8. This lever arm,as appears from FIGURE 5, can be received Within the openin s 23 and 34to make the device more compact and able to be placed more closelyagainst the wall. The other arm of the crank 98 extends in the recess 82forwardly and somewhat downwardly, and at its forward end is pivotallyengaged on a pin 1% that projects laterally from a crank adjusting slideTill. This crank adjusting slide has flat opposite sides so that it canbe received in the rectangular slide opening 1030f a crank driver 104.The slide 101 is adapted to slide up and down the length of the opening103 and it does so by means of a screw 106 that passes through a hole107 in the end of the driver, is threaded into a hole 103 in the slide101, and has its end projecting beyond the opposite end of the crankdriver 184-. The screw res is held in the driver by an appropriateretaining snap ring over its end which permits the screw to turn freelybut not to move axially. Of course, turning the screw moves the crankslide 101 along the opening 103 and alters the distance from the axis ofrotation of the crank to the pivot center of the end ofthe arm 28.

The crank driver 1M, which constitutes the crank arm of this assembly,has a hub 112 extending from the side thereof and bearing in the Wall53. The hub 3112 projects beyond the wall and has a non-circular.(fiatted) 6, bore so as to receive the similarly shaped end of a shaft113 of a crank 114 that is adapted to be operated by hand. The shaft 113is secured into the hub 112 by a locking pin 115 that can be appliedfrom the outside. This prevents the part from becoming disassembled andalso holds the crank driver in place.

This dispenser body is adapted to cooperate with different kinds ofproduct containers. In FIGURES 2 and 3, a metal can 126 is illustrated.This is a typical cylindrical can of the type that is usually made ofsheet steel coated with tin as shown upside down. In the illustrationthe can is shown as being approximately 5 /2 X7 /2. The can may have abottom 121, here appearing at the top of the can, which may be'curledover the edge in familiar fashion. This bottom 121 should be providedwith a central hole 122, here illustrated as inch in diameter. This holeis initially closed by a knock-out plug partially incised so that it canbe readily removed, or it can he covered by a piece of removable tape orthe like.

The top edge of the can is curled as is known in the art. The bottom ofthe groove 43 is shaped to receive this curl, which remains after thelid is removed by one of the usual can opening devices. The insidediameter of the can should be such as to provide a snug fit within thegroove 43.

The can is filled with the material to be dispensed, on top of afollower plate 124. When a fresh can of material is placed on thedispenser body in a manner that will be described hereafter and the hole122 is opened, an indicator and weight arrangement is also applied. Thiscomprises an indicator tag 125 connected to a flexible cable 126 thathas a weight 127 on its end. This weight may be a lead sinker and thecable may be a cord or metallic element. The weight fits through thehole 122 and engages on top of the follower plate 124. It will followthe plate down, aiding the plate to follow thematerial as the levelthereof drops. The rnember 125 constitutes a handle by which the weightcan be pulled up,

and also constitutes an indicator, since its vertical position indicateshow much material is left in the dispenser.

This dispenser body can also be used with a different kind of a productcontainer such as the plastic bottle 128 shown in FIGURE 4. This bottlehas a tip 129 in its bottom, here inverted, which can be clipped oil toprovide a vent hole when the bottle is placed in dispensing position.The bottle has its neck formed with a threaded portion 13% adapted to beengaged with the threads 58. It also has a shouldered portion 131 thatfits within the recess 56. Its upper wall 132 fits against the surface46 and it preferably has a circular ridge 133 that fits into the groove43 and engages around the wall 45 to a greater or lesser degree, as isdesired to give a maximum degree of stability. Finally, it also may havea shoulder-like portion 134 that can engage on the top of the wall 44for stabilizing purposes. While the bottle will work with less than allof these stabilizing elements, they all contribute to its being heldfirmly in the dispenser body, and are of value in connection with aplastic bottle which is not perfectly rigid. The bottle preferably has afollower plate or disc 135 similar to the plate 124 in the can, if theproduct is a plastic of gel-like cream. If the product is free-flowing,no such plate is used. The plate or disc is made of flexible plasticthat is inserted into the bottle by being rolled to a size to passthrough the bottle neck. When in the bottle it expands to fiat conditionand rests at the bottom of the bottle.

It can be observed from FIGURES 3 and 4 that when the bottle or thecontainer is in dispensing position, the vent 76 which opens from thebottom of the dispenser body through to the inside of the threaded wall56 can I not begins to appear through the vent 76, a thumb screw Bil)can be turned down, which cuts off this vent.

then fastened into place.

Use and operation l The preferred form of installation of this dispenseris against a fiat wall, although it will be readily understood that itcan be fastened to other'places and, with appropriately shaped bracketsadded to it, can be attached to irregular surfaces.

In the illustrated form, installation is made by first applying the wallplate 29 against the back 21 of the body 20, then inserting the retainer28 in place so that its flange 31 engages the wall plate 29 and its bodyportion passes through the opening 30 thereof and seats in therecess-.22 in 'the back of the dispenser body. The screws 33 are put inplace and are tightened to hold these to be dispensed in the presentdispenser. In the first, a

container of material is opened, inverted and then installed onto thebody 20 while the latter remains upright. This requires the product tobe stifl' enough, relatively to the size of the opening in thecontainer,to stay in the container when it is inverted and installed.

In the second .method of installing a container of product, the thumbscrew 35 is loosened. This permits the dispenser body 2% to be swiveleduntil his upside down; I If a can 120 of product to be dispensed isemployed, the

first thing is to remove the lid from the can, leaving a clean andpreferably beaded finish around the top of the can wall. This can, stillin its upright position, is elevated against the inverted dispenserbodyuntil the can flange is seated snugly in the groove 43. While holdingthe can in place, with one hand, the dispenser body can be reverted byengaging it with the other hand, until the can is in the uprightposition illustrated. The hook 27 V is again slipped over the thumbscrew 35, which is then tightened. v

In this arrangement, the edge and wall of the container fit deeplyandsnugly enough into the groove 43 to prevent wobblingv of the containerduring use. To aid in this, the walls 44 and 45 fit closelylaround thecontainer; This stability is especially enhanced where the can isprovided with a relatively large diameter such as has been indicated andwhere its height is not over about one and one-half times its diameter.7

After reversion of the dispenser, the hole 122 in the top is opened,breaking a suction above the product and above the plate 124 that ispacked in the bottom. The weight 127 is inserted through the hole andrests upon the top of the plate 124, which is packed with the product inthe can. The product then settles down on the top wall 47 of the bodyand fills in around the valve 87. In the event a plastic bottle such as128 is used, the body 20 is inverted as above. The cap is unscrewed fromthe bottle, and the upright bottle is screwed into the recess 59. Inthis action, the stabilizing parts are brought into firm engagement bythe pull of the threads. When the bottle is well secured in place, theassembly may be reverted and the screw 35 tightened.

In order to permit a free downward flow of the prod I uct, even thoughit may be semi-liquidor gel-like, the

thumb screw 143 is unscrewed somewhat, opening the .vent 76and'permitting escape of any air entrapped in the bottom of thedispenser that might prevent downfiow. of the product. caped, the thumbscrew is again tightened, sealingoii the As soon as the'air hascompletely esvent 76.

The product flows downwardly and fills around the' parts together; butthe arrangement permits the dispenser centrally located valve 87. Havingit centrally located 1 minimizes the possibility of having a channel orpassage form through the material withiri the can 120 or bottle 128 tothe top thereof, which would destroy the vacuum that draws material intothe dispensingchamber. It has been found that this disposition of .thevalve eliminates having high walls on the dispenser body 20 that somedispensers use to insure presence of a sufficient head of materialtoovercome any passages that form. The formation of passages is alsorestricted by the presence of the plate 124' or the plate 135, thatextends evenly a maximum distance all around the port.

7 The material provides a' seal between its upper surface within thecan, which is open to the atmosphere through the hole 122. or 129, andthevalve 87. The materials familiarly used and dispensed as for cleaningthe hands contain oily or oil-like materials that aid in the forming ofsuch seals and also aidlin providing seals'in the operation of thisdevice. I

When it is desired to dispense some product, the operator cranks thecrank 114 with one hand while the other hand is disposed below theoutlet orifice 93. Turn' ing thecrank' 114 rotates thexcrank driver 104;The

of the crank 114 causes a rotary motion of the pin100 on the crankslide, which motion results in a reciprocation of the piston 95 withinthe machined cylinder 67. The stroke of the piston and, as will appear,the amount of the material dispensed for each stroke of the piston isregulated by the adjustment of the screw 106 which changes the length ofthe crank arm.

As the piston 95 moves in, which is to'the right in FIGURE 2, it acts asa movable wall constricting the discharge chamber 63, and this expelsthe product outwardly past the valve 99. During this, the valve 87 sealsagainst its Seat,preventing'expulsion of the product back into theproduct container. As one'revolution of the crank 114 is completed, thepiston 95. is retracted, which is to the left in FIGURE Z. It again actsas a movable wall, butthis time it enlarges the chamber 63. The actionis accompanied by the seating of the valve 90 and the development'of alow pressure area back of the valve 87, whereupon this valve 87 isopened by the force of atmosphere and gravity to cause product to passinwardly into the chamber 63 around the valve 87.

7 At the start it may be necessary to operate the crank a number oftimes in order to expel air from the chamber 63, but once it isexpelled, thereafter the product fills this chamber. Thereafter, asingle complete rotation of the crank arm 114 will draw one charge ofmaterial from the container into the chamber 63, and expel one chargetherefrom through the orifice 93 The amountis determined by theadjustment of the screw 1%, within maximum and minimum limits.

The indicator 125, by its elevation, tells the quantity of material inthe can. Ordinarily the plastic bottles are suificiently translucent toenable the quantity remaining therein to be observed from outside thebottle, so that the indicator is unnecessary.

It is to be observed that the main part of this dis penser body can bemade of a single molding and the other parts applied thereto withoutdifliculty. 'In order to installthe crank parts, the bottom plate 83' isremoved. This also gives full and free access to these crank parts for.adjustment of the stroke of the crank and hence of the amount to bedispensed per revolution of the hand crank 114, although adjustment canusually be made by inserting a screw driver through the hole 84. Removalof this plate 83 also gives access'to the check valve 963' dispensed hasbeen described as including an inversion of The disposition of theseoperating parts in an snrspso the dispenser bowl by swiveling, it alsocan be done a third way by taking the dispenser bowl entirely off thewall and applying it to the can, then inverting the combination andreapplying it to the wall. This is readily done because of the use ofthe keyhole slot arrangement.

It will be noted that the dispenser can be changed from using a can tousing a bottle product receptacle without any mechanical or operationalalterations. The valving arrangement operates with either in a manner tominimize air-channelling and hence loss of suction required to draw aviscous material into the dispensing chamber 48. It can shift fromfree-flowing liquid to stiff gels without requiring any change, anytools, or any adjustments.

This dispenser minimizes mess and leakage in another way. Both the canand the bottle are actually in sealing engagement with the dispenserbody 26. Consequently, material cannot escape by oozing around the jointbetween the container and the body 20. Some dispensers,-

having no air vent, provide a venting at this joint, but at the cost ofleakage of product at the vent.

This dispenser provides a long path from the valve 87 to the port 122 or129, because of the centrality of the valves and the use of the plate124 or 135. This so minimizes channelling that it could break the feedsuction. The central valve requires the operating mechanism to beofi-center, but the interfitting of these parts in the space usuallyemployed in the supporting bracket prevents making the dispenser bodyexcessively large or excessively stand out from the wall. Also thearrangement enables the delivery orifice to be under the main body 24),instead of projecting forward from it where it is somewhat dangerouslyin the way, or can be broken by accidental blows. Note also that thecompact arrangement, with the crank type operation, minimizes rocking ofthe dispenser during use, and hence reduces the tendency to pull it offthe wall.

This dispenser can easily be cleaned, either by running water through itin an ordinary dispensing manner, or by taking it from the wall andcleaning it. The keyhole slots 37 make the dispenser easy to lift bodilyfrom the wall, without using any tools, or removing any screws. Its

light weight (in plastic about two pounds) makes the removal andcleaning easy. The simple arrangement of parts makes cleaning easy. Andwater can readily be washed through its dispensing parts to clean them.

Also to be noticed is the fact that the piston arrangement, whichconstitutes a movable wall means to vary the size of the dispensingchamber to produce in-feeding suction and expelling pressure, does notrequire the piston to cross the inlet. The piston does not have to actas a valve, cutting off the inlet, as in some dispensers. This meansthat the piston can have a sealing fit in its cylinder, as by the O-ring96, a feature that is impractical when the piston must cross the inletport, because of the wear on the seal developing from repeatedly forcingit across the port. The present design operates without valving by thepiston by having the check valve 87. But former dispensers have beenunable to use a check valve because its resistance to flow requires agood suction, and strong suction increases the tendency to channelthrough the product to the air above, breaking the suction. Since thepresent arrangement minimizes such channelling, a strong suction can beused. With this mechanism also, the inteed of additional material canbegin the moment a suction is created sufficient to overcome the valveimpedance, whereas in dispensers wherein the plunger acts as a valve,infeed cannot begin until the plunger has retracted from its expulsionpressure stroke to uncover the inlet port. Accordingly, the time forcharging the dispensing chamber in such other dispensers is short,especially when the crank is operated rapidly. Incomplete charging anddispensing result. Indeed, other dispensers may require devices toimpose pressure upon the material to speed its entry into the dispensingchamber. Such blades and the like are un- 19 necessary here. And thisdispenser delivers'all of the product from the can or bottle, notleaving any waste.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the process of thisinvention as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modifications are within the scope and teaching of thisinvention as definedby the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dispenser for liquid and semi-liquid materials, a dispenserbody, a product container mounted on the body, the product containerhaving a vertical axis and a lower wall generally transverse to theaxis, and a neck depending from the middle of the lower wall, and meansto secure the body to a wall or the like support, the body having anupwardly facing surface. with an inlet opening through the middlethereof; the body having a means to engage the lower wall of thecontainer at distances substantially outward from the inlet and leavingalso a continuous receptacle-receiving recess around the opening; theproduct container being thus supported on the body and its neck having adepending wall engaged in said recess in sealing relationship with thebody to prevent leakage around the wall, and to dispose the product overthe opening; the body having a vent through from within the recess tothe outside of the dispenser body, to connect the area adjacent therecess to the outside, and means to open and close said vent, whereby torelieve air pressure in the dispenser as desired; a dispensing chamberin the housing, the inlet opening leading thereinto, and an outletopening leading therefrom and providing a discharge orifice; mechanismproviding metering discharge of product from the con tainer, including apiston slidable in the chamber in a suction stroke direction to drawmaterial from the receptacle into the chamber and movable in theopposite direction to expel material from the chamber; and means toprevent ingress to the chamber through the outlet on the suction strokeand to prevent egress of material through the inlet on the oppositestroke.

2. The dispenser of claim 1, with the means to operate the piston thatincludes a crank, an arm for connecting the crank to the piston; andmeans for adjustably and pivotally connecting the arm to the piston, andmeans for connecting the arm to the crank at different distances fromthe center of rotation of the crank.

3. The dispenser of claim 1, with a crank arm connected at one end tothe piston, and extending downwardly and inward below the piston, acrank mounted on the body for rotation about a horizontal axis, andpivotally connected to the crank arm.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the last-named means includes atubular fitting threaded into the walls of the inlet opening, a ball inthe fitting and scalable thereagainst, and a spring acting against theball to urge it into sealing engagement, the fitting being insertablefrom above into the body.

5. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the body has the circular wallintegral with the walls of the chamber, the chamber comprising ahorizontal portion and a vertical portion, the latter being thedischarge outlet; walls depending on opposite sides of the horizontalportion and connected with the vertical portion to form an enclosurebelow the horizontal portion; a crank having its driver in theenclosure, and a crank arm in the enlosure and connected pivotally tothe crank driver and the piston.

6. In a dispenser: a body having a dispensing chamber with an inlet atthe center axis of the container, and a material container having adownwardly-projecting wall surrounding a material passage in its lowerend, the container being superposed above and having itsdownwardly-projccting wall in sealing engagement with the body; thecontainer having a vent in its upper end, and a gravityoperated followerplate above the material and extending across the containersubstantially into contact with its inner walls all around but free ofsaid walls; and suctiontype means to draw material to be dispensed, fromthe 1 1 container through the inlet into the chamber; the arrange: mentof the inlet and follower plate and the sealing of the container to thebody minimizing channelling through the material to the top thereof.

7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein thesuction means includes a pistonreciprocable in a cylinder that forms part of the dispensing chamber,the piston having a path of travel that does not cross the inlet. 7

8. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the body has a continuous recessaround its upper surface and the downwardly projecting wall engages withthe body in said recess in sealing engagement, the recess being wideenough to permit the edge of the container to be readily inserted andwithdrawn.

9. The dispenser of claim 8, wherein the recess comprises a deep grooverounded at its bottom, and the container comprises a can with a verticalwall with a rounded edge constituting the downwardly-projecting wallinsertable into and removable from the groove to dispose its edge insealing engagement with the bottom of the groove, and to support thecontainer stably on the body.

10. In a dispenser: a body formed of a. single unitary member having aback wall, a top wall, and two spaced depending side walls merging withthe forward side of,

the back wall and the under side of the top wall; a dis pensing chamberarranged below the top wall between the side walls, an inlet into thedispensing chamber through the top wall; an outlet for the dispensingchamber; the dispensing chamber extending to the back wall and openingthrough the same; an enclosure formed between the side walls, forward oftheback wall, and below the chamber, the enclosure opening out thebottom; a crank mounted on one side wall for rotation about a horizontalaxis, an arm pivotally connected to the crank, and a plunger in thedispensing chamber connected to the arm .at the back open end of thechamber.

means including a circular boss-and-recess attaching means between theplate and the back wall for rockably mounting the body on the plate, thewall plate having quickly-detachable means for securing it to a wall,whereby the dispenser may be readily removed from the wall as well asswivelled about the attaching means, and stop means for securing thebody uprightly.

12. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein the back Wall has a circularrecess through which the chamber opens, a retainer with a cylindricaloffset in the circular recess, and having a flange parallel to the backwall in spaced rela- ItiOl'l, the bottom of the retainer being securedto the back wall; a wall plate having a circular hole disposed aroundthe cylindrical offset of the retainer and retained between the flangeand the back wall; the back wall having hook means and the wall platehaving stop means engageable by the hook means when the body member isupright.

13. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein there is a bottom plate spanningthe side walls and extending over the outlet, and orifice means on thebottom plate where it crosses the outlet. 14. The dispenser of claim 13,wherein there is a check valve in the outlet, including a ball and aspring, the spring engaging the ball and the bottom plate. 7

15. The dispenser of claim 10, wherein there is dispensing operatingmechanism, including a piston reciprocable in the chamber toward andfrom the back wall; an arm pivotally connected to the back of thepiston, extending downwardly and forwardly in the enclosure; a crank in-I eluding a crank driver rotatable about a vertical axis, in

the enclosure, the driver having a radial slot, a crank slide operableradially in the slot and rockably connected to the end of the pistonarm; and means for adjusting the crank slide in the slot to change thestroke of the piston.

16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the last-named means includes ascrew, a bottom plate covering the enclosure, and a hole in the bottomplate giving ready access to the screw.

onto the body, the container having an opening in the upper end thereof;an element in the container floating on the material; an indicator totell the level of liquid in the container, including a member insertablethrough the opening and weighted so as to be engageable with the top ofthe floating element and movable therewith, and means connectedtherewith visible from outside the container to indicate the level ofthe floating element.

. 18. The dispenser of claim 17, wherein the floating element'comprisesa plate, and the means visible from the outside includes a flexibleconnector from the plate, passing through the opening in the upper endof the container.

19. In a dispenser of the kind described: a dispenser body and aninverted, removable container thereon for flowable' material; thecontainer having side walls, an upper wall disposed at the top' of theinverted container, and a bottom at the lower end 'of the invertedcontainer, the bottom providing an opening for egress of material andalower portion around the lower end of the inverted containerapproximately coextensive with the side walls;

the body having an upper surface upon which the container rests, theupper surface having portions coextensive with the aforesaid lowerportion of the container for interengagement of the container and bodyat the outer parts of the container so as to give a stable support tothe removable container, interengaging but separatable means on thesurface and the container interfitting together to provide a seal;a'dispensing chamber in the body comprising a horizontal cylinderextending from the back of the dispenser forwardly; an inlet through theupper surface of the body and connecting into the chamber, an outletfrom the chamber; a check valve in'the inlet to pre-' vent back flowtherethrough; a check valve in the outlet to prevent fluid flow into thechamber from outside; a plunger in the chamber reciprocable backward andforward to draw material from the container into the chamber and toexpel it via the outlet; a crank beneath the chamber rotatably supportedon the body for rotation about a horizontal axis; a ipitman connectingthe crank and the plunger/the pitman being pivotally connected to theplunger at the back thereof and being operable upon rotation of thecrank to reciprocate the plunger; the outlet opening through the bottomof the body at least substantially within the forward limits of thecontainer.

20. In the dispenser of claim 19: the chamber opening through the backof the body; a bracket for securing the dispenser to a support, (thebracket having interengaging parts with the back of the body, and havingan opening in alignment with the chamber, the pitman connection to ofthe body and its opening being the opening aforesaid that receives thepitman.

22. In the dispenser of claim 19, pivot means connecting the pitman tothe crank, the means being positionable adjustably toward or from theaxis of the crank to vary the stroke'of the plunger, and a screwaccessible at the lower part of the dispenser to adjust the positionthereof and to hold the pivot means in adjusted position.

, 23. In the dispenser of claim 19, the forward extent of the chamberbeing closed and being within the for: ward extent of the container.

24. In the dispenser of claim 19: the interengaging but separable meansproviding a seal between the upper surface of the body and the lowerpart of the inverted container comprising a threaded recess adjacent thecenter of 13 the said upper surface, surrounding the inlet, and athreaded neck on the container screwed into said recess, the containerhaving a shoulder extending laterally from the neck to coopreate withthe upper surface of the body to provide the stable support asaforesaid.

25. In a dispenser: a body and a container for flowable material; thecontainer comprising an inverted bottle with generally cylindrical sideshaving an intially closed upperly-disposed wall and a loWerly-disposedwall having a neck projecting medially therefrom, the latter wallextending outwardly from the neck to the sides, in a directiontransverse to the axis of the bottle, to form a shoulder, the shoulderbeing at least about twice as wide as the neck, the neck beingcylindrical and provided with threadlike fastening means; the bodyhaving an upper surface with a recess at its mid-portion, the walls ofwhich have thread-like fastening means complementary to those on thecontainer, whereby the container may be secured to the body by theinterengaging of the fastening means; the upper surface of the bodyextending outwardly around the recess and having upwardly facingportions engageable with the lowerly-disposed wall of the containeraround the shoulder thereof outwardly from the neck, and sufiicientlyclosely to the side Walls of the container to provide stable support forthe container by the combination of the medial fastening means and theshoulder support; and means in the body below the neck for causingdispensing of material from the container.

26. In a dispenser: a body and a container for fiowablc material; thecontainer comprising an inverted flexible plastic bottle having avertical axis side walls, an upper wall, and a lower wall, the lowerwall being generally transverse to the axis and extending inwardly fromthe side walls toward the axis, and having a downwardly projectingannular threaded neck at the middle of the lower wall, the lower wallextending around the neck and having an area several times thetransverse area of the neck; the body having an upper surface similarbut complementary in shape to the lower wall of the container so as tosupport the lower wall substantially throughout the extent thereof fromthe neck outwardly to the side Walls, the upper surface of the bodyhaving a threaded recess into which the neck of the bottle may besecured to cause it to be held and to cause the lower wall of thecontainer to engage with the upper surface of the body, a passagethrough the body within the threaded recess and means on the body tocause material to flow through said passage and to be dispensed.

27. In the dispenser of claim 26: a follower disc in the bottle havingdimensions less than the inside dimensions of the bottle so that it canfreely descend in the bottle as the material is dispensed, and, the discbeing of flexible and somewhat resilient material, so that it can befolded for insertion through the neck, and will expand to discshape wheninside the bottle.

28. For a dispenser: a hollow container having an enlarged generallycylindrical body portion and a reduced annular neck; and a follower discinside the container, made of flexible and resilient material so it canbe inserted through the neck, and will return to disc shape in thecontainer, the disc having dimensions less than the inner dimensions ofthe body of the container but approximating the same so that the disccan freely follow the upper surface of the contents of the container asthe contents are withdrawn.

29. in the dispenser of claim 26: a removable projec ing tip on theupper wall of the bottle, formed in the plastic, the same being adaptedto be clipped away to provide a vent in the upper end of the bottle.

30. in the dispenser of claim 26: the upper surface of the body having aperipheral channel around it, and the lower wall of the container havingan integral ridge projecting from it for engagement into the channel.

31. In the dispenser of claim 26: a vent passage in the body from withinthe recess, to exhaust air from the lower part of the container, andmeans to open and close the vent.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LOUIS J. DEMBO,Primary Examiner. RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Examiner.

1. IN A DISPENSER FOR LIQUID AND SEMI-LIQUID MATERIALS, A DISPENSERBODY, A PRODUCT CONTAINER MOUNTED ON THE BODY, THE PRODUCT CONTAINERHAVING A VERTICAL AXIS AND A LOWER WALL GENERALLY TRANSVERSE TO THEAXIS, AND A NECK DEPENDING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE LOWER WALL, AND MEANSTO SECURE THE BODY TO A WALL OR THE LIKE SUPPORT, THE BODY HAVING ANUPWARDLY FACING SURFACE WITH AN INLET OPENING THROUGH THE MIDDLETHEREOF; THE BODY HAVING A MEANS TO ENGAGE THE LOWER WALL OF THECONTAINER AT DISTANCES SUBSTANTIALLY OUTWARD FROM THE INLET AND LEAVINGALSO A CONTINUOUS RECEPTACLE-RECEIVING RECESS AROUND THE OPENING; THEPRODUCT CONTAINER BEING THUS SUPPORTED ON THE BODY AND ITS NECK HAVING ADEPENDING WALL ENGAGED IN SAID RECESS IN SEALING RELATIONSHIP WITH THEBODY TO PREVENT LEAKAGE AROUND THE WALL, AND TO DISPOSE THE PRODUCT OVERTHE OPENING; THE BODY HAVING A VENT THROUGH FROM WITHIN THE RECESS TOTHE OUTSIDE OF THE DISPENSER BODY, TO CONNECT THE AREA ADJACENT THERECESS TO THE OUTSIDE, AND MEANS TO OPEN AND CLOSE SAID VENT, WHEREBY TORELIEVE AIR PRESSURE IN THE DISPENSER AS DESIRED; A DISPENSING CHAMBERIN THE HOUSING, THE INLET OPENING LEADING THEREINTO, AND AN OUTLETOPENING LEADING THEREFROM AND PROVIDING A DISCHARGE ORIFICE; MECHANISMPROVIDING METERING DISCHARGE OF PRODUCT FROM THE CONTAINER, INCLUDING APISTON SLIDABLE IN THE CHAMBER IN A SUCTION STROKE DIRECTION TO DRAWMATERIAL FROM THE RECEPTACLE INTO SAID CHAMBER AND MOVABLE IN THEOPPOSITE DIRECTION TO EXPEL MATERIAL FROM THE CHAMBER; AND MEANS TOPREVENT INGRESS TO THE CHAMBER THROUGH THE OUTLET ON THE SUCTION ON THEOPPOSITE STROKE.